Jeff Chow, proprietor and operator of Portland's former Mama Chow's Kitchen meals cart, was strolling with associates within the Columbia River Gorge on Tuesday when he slipped off the path close to Wahclella Falls and abruptly fell headlong onto a rock. proper above a river. greater than 10 ft under.
The accident put the skilled chef and lifelong restaurateur within the hospital after a daring rescue and helicopter flight to the Oregon Well being and Science College Trauma Heart, the place he obtained surgical procedure for a cranium fracture, in addition to remedy for six fractured ribs and one fracture. shoulder blade.
The favored meals cart, situated in Southeast Portland alongside Division Avenue, will stay closed for a number of weeks because it recovers.
Jeff Chow needed to be carried out of the woods on foot earlier than a helicopter might take him to the Oregon Well being and Science College Trauma Heart to deal with his accidents.Courtesy of John Michelini
Margaret de Jesus Chang, an outdated buddy who works with Chow at his meals cart and was one in every of three individuals who walked with him that day, stated the autumn caught him and everybody else off guard.
“He didn't even have time to place his fingers up,” Chang instructed The Oregonian/OregonLive whereas sitting in a hospital room with Chow. “He hit his head head on.”
Chow was instantly knocked unconscious, he stated, however he was alive and had one other saving grace: The 2 different associates strolling with him, John Michelini and Peter Yung, had been firefighter paramedics.
As their associates climbed down to offer speedy first support, good Samaritan couple Zippy and Jenelle Etzel, who had been additionally mountain climbing the path, stepped in to assist. Whereas the group helped Chow, Michelini and Jenelle Etzel referred to as 911 in hopes of making an attempt to ship a message over spotty cell service within the distant space, Chang stated.
The message got here by way of and a rescue workforce from Cascade Locks Fireplace Division, together with first responders from Corbett Fireplace District and Clackamas County AMR, arrived to assist Chow.
“The preliminary (rescue) workforce was in a position to make use of the rope to get right down to him,” Cascade Locks Fireplace Chief John Logan instructed The Oregonian/OregonLive as he described the operation to get better Chow from the place he had fallen. “I’d say it was most likely one of the tough rescues in comparison with what we've accomplished prior to now.”
He added that having two of Chang's associates who had been retired hearth paramedics on the scene was “very useful” and that the data they offered knowledgeable his choice to name a LifeFlight helicopter.
Chow couldn't share a lot about his expertise with The Oregonian/OregonLive on Saturday, however he expressed his gratitude in a cellphone name from his hospital room.
“I'm grateful that the primary responders did an important job, grateful for the medical evacuation, grateful to OHSU and the workers,” he stated, including that he was additionally grateful to the restaurant trade group, associates, household, clients and strangers who’ve supported him.
In a GoFundMe assertion for Chow, Chang wrote that he won’t be able to work at his meals cart for a minimum of six weeks whereas he recovers from his accidents.
He added that he needed to endure surgical procedure to put in a titanium plate in his cranium to restore the fracture, and he at present has staples in his head whereas it heals, however he’s desperate to get again to work.
Jeff Chow wanted surgical procedure to restore his cranium after he was flown by helicopter to Oregon Well being & Science College Trauma Heart.Courtesy of Margaret Margaret de Jesús Chang
Chang stated he grew up working at his mom's Finest Style Chinese language-American restaurant in Oakland, an affect that gave Mama Chow's Kitchen its identify when she opened the meals cart in Portland in 2014, which The Oregonian listed as probably the greatest eating places new. automobiles within the metropolis that yr.
Regardless of his accidents, he stated, Chow stays sturdy.
“He's a tricky man, however you understand, he's acquired a giant coronary heart,” she stated. “He's in an excellent temper.”
— Tatum Todd is a breaking information reporter overlaying public security, crime and group information.